Electric switch.



A. N. PETIT. ELECTRIC SWITCH.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 2, 1913.

awn/e619 B's lave-n30 1 fimq 63. fldemor NPef/t. 6on1 7 m 7/0 UNITEDSTATES ADEMOR N. PETIT, OF WEST ORANGE. NEW JERSEY.

. ELECTRIC SWITCH.

Specification of Letters fatent.

Patented June 16. tall 4-.

Application filed January 2, 1913. Serial No. 739,588.

. sex and State of New Jersey {have invented an improvement in ElectricSwitches, of winch the following description, in connection withtheaccompanying drawings, is a specification, like characters on thedrawings representing like parts.

This invention relates to electric switches.

for lampsockets and other uses.

The character of the invention may be best understood by reference tothe following description of an illustrative embodiment thereof shown inthe accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of an illustrative lamp socket equippedwitha switch mechanism embodying the invention; Fig. 2 on an enlargedscale is a vertical section through the socket shown in Fig. 1,disclosing a switch mechanism contained therein; Fig. 3 is a sectiontaken on line 33 of Fig. 2; Fig. t is a section taken on line H of Fig.5-); Fig. 5 is a bottom view of the socket;

Fig. .(S is a sectional detail showing the switch in one position; T isa similar view showing the switch in a different position; and Fig. 8 isa detail to be referred to.

leferring to the drawing. the illustrative construction shown therein asembodying the invention comprises a' frame including a dome or covering;top 1 and a base block I, of porcelain or other appropriate insulationmaterial. Said top and block are spaced and standards 5 and 7 areprovided conveniently integral or rigidly and permanently connected withsaid'top and having feet held in recesses in said base blockby suitablescrews, The top and standards herein form the support for said block anda switch mechanism to be described. To receive the usual incandescentlamp a. threaded socket 9 is secured to the under face of said baseblock.

To receive the wires leading to the lamp binding posts 11 and l?) areprovided conveniently L shaped and seated in recesses in. the upperface. of the base block said binding posts being secured to said blockby screws 1] and 13*. The head of the screw 11' is set in a recess inthe under face of the disk 3. sutlicienty deepto prevent contact thereofwith the threaded socket 9. The screw 13 is longer and is entered Ithrough the bottom of the socket 9 and prorides a conductor between thebinding post 13 and said socket, The binding p ost ll [H fortransmitting the current to a spring contact H on the under face of thedisk 3. which is adapted to engage the usual ceic tral contact on theend of an im-aiulesceni. lamp. This spring' contact is connected bv ascrew 15 with a plate 17 set in a recess iii the upper surface of thedisk 3.

To make and break the circuit between the binding post 11 and thespring; contact they are provided with opposed contact brushes 19. 19projecting upwardly and con venientlv composed of a plurality ofresilient leaves of copper or other suitable. conducting material.Tnterposed bet-ween these brushes and engaged by them is a switch wheel21 of porcelain or other suitable material journalcd on a stud shaft 21%having a reduced end threaded to the standard b referred to. This wheelis provided with segments 25 of insulation material alternating withsegments 27 of conducting material. aresult. when an insulation segmentis between and in engagement with said ln'ushes the circuit is open andwhen a conducting secgment is between and in en- .ejagl'ement with saidbrushes the circuitis closed. To advance this wheel step-by-step itslateral faces are provided with inclines forming ratchet teeth '2 whichare engaged by resilient paw s 3'1 projecting: inward from a rockingyoke 32% embracing a portion of said wheel and journaled on the studshaft of the latter,

To rock the yoke in a clockwise direction to advance the wheel a stepthe yoke is provided with an a'rcuate channel 235 in which is seated achain or cord or other flexible connection 37. one end of which issuitably secured to said yoke at one end of said channel. The other endof said chain projects out of the frame through an a per-- ture in thestandard? referred to and is received and guided by a rigid tube 39threaded in ,said aperture and having tubular portions extending indifferent direc- (lOllS. herein substantially at right angles to oneanother. said portions beingconnected by a friction reducing graduallycurved portion. The tube is adjustably secured to said standard bv aset. nut 41. As a result. the tube can be set in various positions ofadjustment relatively'to the Socket and always depend downward whetherthe socket the contourot the channel.

tion.

The free end oi? the chain depends 'trom said tube and may be providedwith an appropriate handle.

\Vhen the chain is.pulled the yoke is rocked in a clockwise direction(Fig. 7). In the course of this movement the opposed pawls of said yokeengage the ratchet teeth of the switch wheel and turn the latter also ina clockwise direction. The rocking of the yolrin this direction islimited by the engagement thereof with the upper surface of the basedisk To prevent undue pound ing of said yoke on said disk from thisrocking movement a helical spring 43, or other resilient means, may beinterposed in the pull chain. To prevent the chain jumping out ot thechannel of the rocking yoke a shield at is provided conveniently securedto the standard 5 and curved to conform to The rocking yoke ignormallyurged in a contra-clocluvise direction 3) by a helical spring 4-5encircling said stud shaft and having one end secured to said rockingyoke and its opposite end secured to the standard 5. On retreatingmovement'of the yoke the resilient pawls thereof drag idly along thefaces of the switch wheel into positions to he in readiness to engageother teeth of said wheel and advance the latter another increment. Tolimit the rocking of said yoke in a con-- tra-clockwise direction asuitable stop is provided shown herein as a spur 4% projecting from saidshield.

The opposed brushes not only act as contacts but also as dogs tolimitthe reverse rotation of the switch wheel, and owing to their resiliencetend to check the rotative movement of the wheel and prevent overthrowthereof.

The rocking yoke has a sutlicient arc of movement to advance the ratchetwheel a distance somewhat in excess ot'the distance between twosuccessiveratchet teeth of the switch wheel but the yoke pawls onretreat of the yoke" press against the switch wheel and rcvcrscly rotatethe same sutlicientl y to com 'iensate for the excess advance and bringthe ratchet teeth thereol"back into engagement with the ends of thebrush contact dogs. Thus the switch wheel .is always advanced equalsteps and thereby proper engagement of the wheel segments with the brushcontacts is assured on the successive steps of advance of the wheel.

The switch supporting frame may be connectedlto a bracket or otherfixture in any suitable manner. .\s shown herein the dome ring 1 ismounted on the reduced end of a boss 47, said end being lippcd orriveted over into secure engagement with said ring. To connect this bosswith the usual threaded pipe 4-9 of a fixture a pair of flanged beprovided, one

being adapted for threaded engagementwith the fixture and the other withsaid boss. By this arrangement the socket may be turned to bring thechain guiding tube in any desired position.

.lleretofore, so far as I am aware, in connecting the switch carryingframe to fix-- tiures it. has been necessary to first inclose the framein a socket. shell which made in two parts comprising a shell and a cap,the latter being provided with a bushing which is threaded to thefixture. In mounting such a lamp socket upon a. tixturc it is necessaryto first screw the cap to the li.\'- ture, then secure the switch frameto the cap and finally inclose the frame, in the shell. By theconstruction described hcrein this ii'tconvenience is eliminated sincethe standards of the switch carrying frame are permanently connected toor integral with the ring which is secured to the fixture.

If desired, the frame may be incloScd in a shell 55 of brass or othersuitable material which may be slipped over the base block and its upperedge fitted within the border of the dome ring. To prevent; interferencefrom the chain guide tube with the shell the latter may be provided witha lateral aperture. To connect the shell with said ring the former maybe provided with resilient fingers 57 having lugs projecting therefromfor entrance into corresponding apertures in said dome.

The usual paper insulation shell may be interposed between said brassshell and the switch carrying frame.

The shell and dome described present an outward appearance having asuitable tinish for certain purposes. but in some cases it may bedesired to provide a finer linish by inclosing the socket in a metallicor other canopy. In such case the brass shell would not be necessarysince it is not essential to connect and provide support for any of theparts but is merely a linishing member.

llerctotore. so far as l am aware. switch mechanisms for lamp socketshave made ncecssary upper and lower insulation blot-ks and also aconsiderable amount of insulation material in the switch mechanisms.This insulation material is objectionable for a variety of reasons. Bymy invention the n'ecessity for an upper insulation block is eliminatedand the amount. ofinsulatinnmaterial in the mechanism is greatlyreduced. In my device it is merely necessary to have the base block andswitch wheel of insulation material and of course the usual paperinsulation shell when the same is employed.

The switch wheel rotating between the spring brush contacts provides asimple and ellective positively operated makeand break arrangement whichis cheap to manufacture and not liable to get out of order.

It not necessary for the wheel to slide on its shaft in making andbreaking the circuit as is usual in socket switches, and therefore thewheel and its cooperating yoke may always remain in alincment with thechainguide so that the chain may freely render through its guide withoutliability of bind ing from one contact to another is not' obliged topass through theshaft of the switch wheel or a series of elements of themechanism. but on the contrary is directly transmitted trom one brushcontact to the other through the single wheel conductor segment inengagement with said brushes. This reduces the liability ot shortcircuiting and poor electrical contact to a minimum. The resilience ofthe brush COntfitIfiS will cause the same to press into close engagementwith the conductor segments of the switch wheel and the turning of thewheel For making and'breaking the circuit will create a rubbing betweenthese surfaces which will maintain them constantly bright andconductive.

While the switch described herein is shown in connection with a lampsocket it will be understood that it is not limited thereto, but has awide field of use.

Having described one embodiment of the invention. without lii'niting thesame thereto. what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patentis:

1. In a device of the class described the combination of a switch wheelhaving conductive and insulation portions. opposed resilient contactsfor engagement with opposite faces of said wheel; a rocking memberhaving a resilient pawl for engagement with said wheel to advance thelatter an increment. a channeh a flexible member seated in said channeland connected to said rocking member for actuating the latter. and meansto prevent inadvertent displacement of said flexible member from saidchannel.

2. In a device of the class described the combination of a switch wheelhaving conductive and insulation portions. opposed rcsilient contactspressing toward one another against the opposite faces of said wheel.and means for advancing said wheel step by step including a rockingmember having resilient pawls for engagement with opposite sidcs oi.said wheel.

3. In a device of the class described the combination of a frameincluding a stand ard. a stud shat't projecting therefrom. a switchWheel journaled on said shaft and having insulation and conductiveportions, resilient contacts for engagement with opposits faces of saidWheel, a rocking memher jourualed on said shaft and having pawls forengagement with said wheel to rotate the same in one direction. and aspring on said shaft tending 'to' turn said rocking member in theopposite direction.

4. In a device of the class described the combination of a frameincluding a base block. a ring. standards connecting said block andring. contacts mounted on said base blocli. a shaft carried by One ofsaid standards, a switch wheel on'said shaft for cooperation with saidcontacts, and means including a rocking member for advancing said wheelstep by step.

5. In a device of the class described the combination of a frameincluding a base block. a ring having provision for connection with atixture. means connecting said base block and ring. fixed contactscarried by said base block, a wheel having conductive and insulationportions for engagement with said contacts. and pawl and ratchet meansfor advancing said wheel step by step.

(3. In a device of the. class described, the combination of a support; aswitch mechanism carried thereby; a rigid curved tube having tubularportions extending in different directions and a gradually curvedportion connecting said tubular portions; a pull chain connected to saidmechanism and extending through said tube; and means for adjustablysecuring said tube to said support to permit said tube to be set invarious positions relatively to said support.

7. device of the class described comprising. in con'ibinat'itm. asupport. a switch mechanism; carl'icd thereby. a rigid guide tube havinga gradually curved portion intcrnuuliate its ends. a pull chainextending 8. A device of the class described compris ing. incombination. a supporting member, a covering top therct'or. a "framepermanently and rigidly connecting said member to said top. a switchmechanism carried by said supporting member. means to connect saidtop-to a fixture, and mea'nsfor incasing said switch mechanism.

A device of the class described comprising. in combinatitm. a supporthaving a covering top permanently and rigidly connected therewith. aswitch mechanism carried by said support. a guide tube having agradually curved portion intermediate its ends and secured to saidsupport. a pull chain extending through said tube for operating saidmechanism, and means for adjustably .through and beyond said tube foroperating and rigidly Securing said support in difi'erentpesitiensrelative to a fixture.

10. A derive of the class described coinprising. in cmnlanation, asupporting memlierl a em-ering, tun therefor, means permanentl andrigidly (rennet-ting said member tn Fflitl tnp. a switch nieirhanisn'icarried by aid supporting member. and means for sei-nring said toprigidly tn a fixture including a clamping sleeve adjuntable externallynf said top and forming); a finishing member.

11. In a device of the nlass desi-ribed the remhination of a switchlilQL'llfllilSlll. a supporting n'ieinlier therefon a covering top. aframe perinanentl and rigidly (UllllPCllllQ' said member to said top andmeans tor euring the latter rigidly to a fixture in different. positionsof rotative adjustment inilnding sleeves having frivtionaltv engag ng:flanges and aceessilvle extelierly elf said n iport for relativeelaniping adjustment.

12. In a (ltVlk'l (it the clans deserilieth tlie runihinatien of asupporting member. a 60V ering top therei nr, means permanentlennneeting .aaid menilier to Flfllil to an tltkll'l cal :',\Vllllllll((llllll:lll earried by said sup porting member. a shell ineltwing' dmeclianisnn and Illtllllfi detaehahly -m'iii(el in g said shell in saidrep.

in l0lllfit lly wherein", l have signed my name to tlii speeiliraliim.in the prwenee of two sulisei'iliing witnesses.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner (if Patents Washington. D. C.

